Pope Paul II Attributed to Cristoforo di Geremia, c. 1468. Bronze, 38.1 x 44.5 mm Ø, 40.0 g Obverse: Bust of Paul II facing right, bareheaded, wearing decorative cope and large morse. Around, PAVLO · VENETO · PAPE · II · ITALICE · PACIS · FVNDATORI (Pope Paul II, Venetian, Founder of Italian Peace). Under the bust, ROMA (Rome) between a bunch of grapes and three stalks of wheat. Reverse: Same as obverse. The epithet "founder of Italian peace" relates to Pope Paul II's efforts at maintaining peace among the Italian States. Perhaps the most serious threat to peace came with the death of Francesco I Sforza on March 8, 1466. Upon hearing this news, a group of Florentine exiles in Venice to conspire to overthrow the Sforzas in Milan. The condottiere Bartolomeo Colleoni, captain-general of the Republic of Venice, was employed and led a coalition force of 14,000 along with Ercole I d'Este of Ferrara. An army of 13,000 from Florence, Milan, Naples, and Bologna was led by Federico da Montefeltro of Urbino. The two forces met on July 25, 1467, in Molinella, and the fighting yielded some 600 casualties, and nearly 1,000 horses were killed. Though indecisive, this was the first battle in Italy to feature large scale usage of artillery and firearms. After this battle, months were spent on military maneuvers and discussions without resolve. Worried of the threat posed by the Turks, Paul II determined to take it under his own authority to achieve peace, and insisted that Venice, Naples, Milan, and Florence to come to terms. With agreements made, Paul II proclaimed the peace among the Italian States in Rome on April 25, 1468, and the final conditions were officially drawn up by May 8. References: Hill 1930, no. 769; Modesti 2002, no. 98 It also seems appropriate to post this medal, which I acquired a few years ago: Francesco I Sforza Work of Sperandio, c. 1466. Lead, 90.5 mm Ø, 280.9 g Obverse: Bust of Francesco I Sforza facing three-quarters right, wearing plate armor. Around, FRANCISCVS · SFORTIA · VICECOMES · DVX · MEDIOLANI · QVARTVS (Francesco Sforza Visconti, Fourth Duke of Milan). At the top, a rose separating the beginning and end of the inscription. Reverse: Frontal view of a Renaissance style building. Around, · OPVS · SPERANDEI · (The Work of Sperandio). At the top, a rose separating the beginning and end of the inscription. Francesco Sforza (1401-1466) was primarily employed by Filippo Maria Visconti, duke of Milan, in the wars with Venice. In 1441, Francesco married Filippo's daughter Bianca Maria, acquiring the family name of Visconti which is present on this medal. Upon Filippo's death in 1447, Milan was briefly a republican government. After years of famine and following riots, the city's senate recognized Francesco as duke. An able ruler who modernized Milan, he died in March of 1466, and was succeeded by his son, Galeazzo Maria Sforza. The style of the bust suggests that it is based on a painted portrait. Pollard notes that while Sperandio did appear on the ducal accounts compiled after Francesco's death, there is no proof that Sperandio ever visited Milan and the recorded sum is too large for a medal. He suggests that the medal was produced while Sperandio was in Ferrara. The building on the reverse, in a Renaissance style and built on a Greek cross plan, is believed to be a design for a memorial chapel for the duke. It is probable that this medal was commissioned as a memorial to the duke following his death in 1466. References: Hill 1930, no. 361; Pollard 2007, no. 94
Interesting medal enhanced by your (usual) excellent, well researched write up Joe. Thanks for posting!
